Method of and apparatus for forming glassware



K. E. PEILER Ju'ne 13, 1933.-

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING GLASSWARE Filed Nov. 225. 19151y 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 ,9 M, 7 7 Mr 9 F p P 3 w June 13, 1933.

K. E. PEILER 1,914,157

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING GLASSWARE 67a Filed Nov. 2s, 1931 s sheets-sheet 2 June 13, 1933. K. E. PEILER 1,914,157

,METHOD 0F AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING GLASSWARE Filed Nov.-25. 1931 8 sheets-sheet 5 f /f /l/ (IllIIllllIlllllllllllllllllllllllIIIHHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIHII Illlllill June 13, 1933. K. E. PEILER METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING GLASSWARE Filed Nov. 23, 1931 8 Sheets-Sheet- 4 Wess; wxga@ June 13, 1933. K. E. PEILER METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING GLASSWARE Filed Nov. 25. 1931 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 IEEE June 13, 1933. K. E. PElLl-:R

MIILQDv OF AND APPARATUS FOR FORIVIINGY GLASSWARE BSheets-Sheet 6 Fi1ed Nov. 23, 1951 Wess:

June 13, 1933. K. E. PEILER METHOD 0F AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING GLASSWARE Filed Nov. 23. 1931 8 Sheets-Shet 7 1 l l 1 l l u l W'wess;

June 13, 1933. K..E. PEILER METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING GLASSWARE Filed Nov. 23, 1931 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 Iza.

Patented June 13, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE KARL E. PEILER, OF WEST HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO HARTFORD- EMPIRE COMPANY, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING GLASSWARE Application led November 23, 1931. Serial No. 576,685.

This invention relates to methods of and apparatus for forming glassware. and has particular relation to the fabrication of h ollow glassware by the use of the suctlon method. f

In the ordinary suction method typified by the well-known Owens practice, a parison first is formed in a parison mold and associated neck mold by charging the molds from y the surface of a gathering pool by suction. An initial blowing cavity is formed in the parison by a neck pin projecting through the neck mold, and after the molds are charged the glass is forced into intimate contact with the mold walls by -compression on the knife, which knife previously severs the charge from the glass in the pool. The parison thus formed then is blown to final shape in a finishing or blow mold.

Although this Imethod is successful, especially for certain types of glassware and lbecause of the good optical appearance (freedom from waviness) of the ware resulting from the method, the method has limil tations in effecting good general distribution of glass in the finished article. The ware is a'pt to vary in thickness from top to bottom, for example, which makes it necessary. to use 4an excessive amount or weight of glass in order that the ware will be sufficiently thick in its thinnest part.

Such limitations are inherent in the usually practiced suction method, because of 'the fact that weight control and parison shape control are both dependent upon, or exercised solely by, the parison mold. The contour of the mold cavity must, therefore, be such that the parison lwill be of the proper weight. This imposes narrow limitations on the shape 40 of the parison mold, and as a result, the desired general distribution of glass in the finished article is not obtained when the parison, improperly shaped in the parison .mold, is blown to final form in the finishing mold.

Another disadvantage of the ordinary suction method, which is related to the limita tions discussed above, is that resulting from the fact that the suction mold must be completely filled with glass in order to gather a charge of the proper weight, which prevents forming a substantially hollow parison.

This not only adversely affects the distribul tion of glass in the parison itself, often preventing proper formation of the neck finish and/or the shoulders thereof, but necessitates the formation of a relatively small parison from which `the minimum amount of heat is abstracted by the parison mold. Furthermore, it requires a maximum amount of expansion and stretching of the parison in the finishing mold, part of which could more efficiently be accomplished previously when the glass is hotter and in better working condition, in addition to requiring the maximum heat abstraction from the glass by finishing mold to set the finished, article. -This reduces the efficiency of the finishing mold and the rate at which glassware can be produced because of the relatively long period in which the glass must remain in the finishing mold.

A further disadvantage of the forming of a substantially solid parison with a small blowing cavity is that it causes badtgeneral distribution in the finishedglassware, especially when the relatively hot interior thereof varies in viscosity, for then non-uni-A form resistance is offered to the expanding cavity, causing it to deviate from the axial center line of the mold, resulting in the formation of walls of varying thickness. This disadvantage is minimized when a hollow parison is formed.

It is the general object of this invention to provide a novel method and novel apparatus for forming glassware by the suction method, wherein the weight of the parisons is controlled independently of the shape control thereof, so that glassware may be produced having both good optical' appearance and good general distribution. This permits the use of parison molds having cavities varying widely in design and in accordance with the design of the finishing molds, and t-he de sired distribution of glass in the finished articles. It also makes possible the formation of relatively hollow parisons closely apv proaching in size the size of the finishin mold cavities, giving the advantages of goed 1 eoY general distribution and increased production and efficiency of operation.

More specifically, it is an object of this invention to provide a novel method and novel apparatus for the performance of the method by which a charge of glass of the proper' weight for the finished article is gathered by suction in a preliminary or blank mold to form a blank. Preferably this blank has no neck finish, the neck mold usually associated with the suction mold being omitted. 'lhe blank is promptly transferred to a second or parison mold with which a neck mold is associated. 1t is essential to this invention to have positive control ofthe glass from the time the blank is formed until the finished article is completed, in order to prevent distortion of the glass and defects in the finished article. Therefore, the blank is positively transferred to the parison mold, and this may be accomplished by aligning the blank mold with the neck mold, forcing part of the blank into the neck mold to form the neck finish, opening the blank mold, and closing the parison mold about the blank left supported by the neck mold.

The parison mold preferably is of a size intermediate between that of the blank mold and a finishing mold and shaped to distribute the glass in the parison for the best genera-l distribution in the finished article. The blank may then be expanded and stretched into a hollow parison of the desired shape and size in the parison mold with the advantages of increased heat abstraction by the parison mold. The hollow parison is transferred to a third or finishing mold and blown to final shape therein.

Other objects of the invention will be pointed out in the following detailed description of the embodiment thereof illustrated in the accompanying drawings, or will become apparent from such description.

1n said drawings:

Figure 1 is a View in top plan of a portion of a machine embodying the invention and which may be used in practicing the novel method;

Fig. 2 is a view in vertical sectional elevation of a part of the machine shown in Fig. l, taken substantially on line 2 2 of Fig. 1, and showing particularly the blank mold and parison mold carriers;

Fig. 3 is a view in rear elevation of the construction shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a View in side elevation of the blank mold carrier, looking from the bottom of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a view in horizontal section taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 but taken on the line 6--6I of Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is a view in vertical sectional elevation of the construction shown in Fig. 4, but looking from the top of Fig. l;

Fig. 8 is a view in vertical longitudinal section of an air distributor associated with the blank mold carrier, said view being taken substantially on the line 8--8 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged View in vertical longitudinal section of a vacuum valve structure for the blank molds, said view being taken substantially on the line 9 9 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 10 is a view in top plan of shear mechanism which cooperates with the blank molds;

Fig. 11 is a partially diagrammatic fragmentary view in top plan of a modified construction for operating the parison molds;

Figs. 12 to 15 inclusive illustrate various steps which may be followed in practicing the novel method of the invention;

F ig. 16 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the apparatus shown in Figs. 1 to 11; and d Figs. 17 and 17 -a when matched together, the first on the left and the second on the right, form a diagram of the system of distribution of air and vacuum to vthe valves, molds, and air motors, etc. of the apparatus shown in Figs. 1 to 11.

The method rlhe novel method of the invention first is described with particular reference to Figs. 12 to l5 inclusive.

A blank of the desired weight first is formed by moving a sectional blank mold B into Contact with the surface of a pool of l is prevented from contacting with the top closure for the mold. This prevents chilling` the top of the blank. The finished blank is shown in Fig. 12.

The blank mold B now is moved into a position beneath and in axial alignment with a sectional neck mold N (Fig. 13) and a neck pin projected through the neck mold to assist in forming a neck finish and to form an initial blowing cavity. The glass in the blank mold is forced up into the neck mold N, forming the nish and attaching the blank to the neck mold. The glass may be forced up by means of a blow-head applied to the bottom of the mold B. Preferably, this blow-head is shaped to fit over the bottom of the blank so as not to touch and chill the glass'. These operations are illustrated in Fig. 13.

The blow-head now may be removed, the neck pin withdrawn, the blank mold opened, leaving the blank suspended from the neck ring, and a sectional parison mold P closed about the blank as shown in Fig. 14.

The parison mold P preferably has a closed bottom, and its cavity may be designed according to the shape of the finishing mold and in such a way as to shape the parison for the best distribution of glass in finish blowing the parison.

The shape of the parison mold Ais more o r less independent of the shape of the blank mold, which is shaped to gather a charge of the desired weight in the most efficient manner.

The parison mold cavity preferably is of a size intermediate between that of the blank mold and finishing mold.

The blank now is blown into a parison, as shown in Fig. 14, by means of a blow-head applied to the neck ring. This forces the glass into intimate contact with the sides and bottom of the parison mold. Prior to this blowing operation, the bottom of the blank will have been permitted to reheat for the proper time, this tending to eliminate any possible shear scar which might otherwise be set in the bottom of the glass by holding a chilling surface such as a shear blade in contact therewith prior to the time that the bottom of the blank has properly reheated.

Inasniuch as the cavity of parison mold vP is appreciably larger than that of blank mold B, a large cavity is formed in the parison and the glass is expanded appreciably, increasing its area of contact with the parison mold. This increases the abstraction of heat from the glass and reduces the amount of expansion and heat abstraction to be accomplished in the finishing mold. Therefore, glassware may be produced more rapidly than in the case where a relatively solid parison is formed.

The hollow parison now is transferred to a finishing mold F (Fig. 15), the neckmold preferably being removed therefrom and the parison blown to final shape in the mold F by means of a suitable blow-head. Since the parison has a large cavity therein, the finish blowing air acts uniformly, forming an article having walls of uniform thickness. This is due to the fact that it is unnecessary for the air to force its way downwardly a great distance through the glass as in the case of a substantially7 solid parison in which the glassis apt to vary in its resistance to the air.

The above described method may be carried out by any suitable form of apparatus, and novel apparatus of this invention adapted to that purpose now is described.

T he apparatus plurality of sectional parison molds P and associated neck molds N on carrier or table 21, and finishing molds F on carrier22. The carriers are rotated step-by-step in the directions indicated for example by the arrows in Figs. 1 and 16, to move the molds toward and away from their stations, such as those designated by the numerals I to IX.

The p carriers all may be mounted on a base 23, the carrier 20 being supported by post 24 arising from the base (Figs. 1, 2 and 4) to the top of which one end of horizontal arm 25 is clamped. The other end of arm 25 receives the upper end of depending tubular column 26 (Fig. 2) on which carrier 20 is rotatably supported for movement above pool G. This connection of the column with the arm is made by a sleeve 27 (Figs. 1, 2 and 7) formed integrally with the arm and having a supporting plate or disc 28 extending therefrom for a purpose later explained.

The carrier 20 comprises an upper hu portion 29 held in position on the column 26 by a collar 31 thereon, and to which is connected the lower tubular hub portion 32 which surrounds and in part engages a reduced lower part 26a of column 26.

A spider 33 is connected to the bottom of hub portion 32, having openings in its ends in which rods 34 are slidably mounted (Figs.

2, 5 and 7). Rods 34 carry bla-nk molds B,

the sections of each of which are set in holders 35 pivoted on the rods 34. The holders have out-turned arms 36 formed thereon (Figs. 2, 4 andy 6) with which mold opening and closing means cooperate, as hereinafter explained. v

The carrier 20 is rotated by means of a ring gear 37, which as shown in Figs. 5 and 7 is connected to the bottom of hub portion 29 by means of a cross-piece or spider 38. The drive for the gear 37` is later described.

The carrier is rotated by gear 37 to move the'blank molds B .from a-position above the gathering pool G or station I, as shown in Fig. 16, to station II diametrically opposite station I.l At station I, the blank vmold is lowered into Contact with th'e glass for the gathering of a charge, and then raised to the properA level for horizontal movement to station II, at which station the blank mold is raised. to engage it with a neck mold N.

The mechanism for so operating the blank molds is as follows: Each ofthe rods 34 has a slide portion 39 connected to its upper end (Figs. 2, 5' and 7) which extend through guideways 41 formed on the hub portion 29, and are provided with rollers 42. When Vthe mold is moved from station to stat-ion, rollers 42 ride on a horizontal flat track 43 eX- tending inwardly 4from the bottom'of a cam drum 44, whichl is secured to the vunderside of the supporting plate 28, previously mentioned.

I-n order to permit the blank mold to be lowered at station I, the horizontal track 43 is cut away as indicated at 45, as also is a baty segment of drum 44 (Fig. 5), to provide a space for the movement of a slide member 46 downwardly and upwardly. Slide member 46 is mounted in a guideway formed in the drum and is provided with an int-urned end orflange 47 for engagement with rollers 42. Flange 47 constitutes a movable part of track 43 so that when a blank mold arrives at station ll and the member 46 is he'ld in its uppermost position, a roller 42 will ride onto flange 47.Y rllhe member 46 then is lowered to dip the mold in the gathering pool, and a't'tcr a charge is gathered the member is raised so that when the carrier again is rotated, roller 42 will move onto the stationary track 43.

The member 46 is raised and lowered by means of an air motor 48 on plate 28, air being admitted to and exhausted from the bottom end thereof througl'i a conduit 49, which as shown in Fig. 17 is connected to a timer, designated generally7 at T. The air motor provides power to raise a blank mold at station l, the mold being lowered at that station by gravity.

A mold is raised at station ll into engagement with a neck mold N by means of an air motor 51, the piston rod of which is provided with a collar 52 which cooperates with a slot 53 in the slide portion 39 of rods 34. Air is admitted to the bottom of the air motor 51 to raise the mold` through a conduit 54 connected to the timer T, the mold being lowered by gravity.

The mechanisms for openingand closing the blank molds is the same for each of them, and each comprises a pair of bell crank levers 55 (Figs. 2 and 4), which are fulcrumed on a sleeve 56 rigidly secured to rod 34. The bell cranks 55 are oscillated to open and close a blank mold by means of an air motor 57 secured to sleeve 56 and provided with conduits 58 and 59 (Figs. 2, 7, 8 and 1,7) through which air is admitted and exhausted, as later explained, to open and close the mold.

The lower arms4 of the bell cranks extend into a position to engage the inturned arms 36 on the mold holders 35, when the bell cranks are rocked clockwise to open the mold and toerigage the sides of the holders 35 when-,rocked counterclockwise to close the mold (see Fing. 6).

. Each blank mold is provided with a suction head 61, which is held in engagement therewith at the time that the mold is moved toward and away'from the gathering position at station I and disengaged from the -mold at station Il. The detailed construction of suction head 61 and the cooperating portion of the mold B is shown in Fig. 12, from which it will be observed that the suction head is arranged to fit the top of the suction mold B to apply vacuum to the vacuum chamber 62 in the mold. Suction head 61 Leiters? carries a closure 63 for the top of the mold cavity, this closure having an air passage 64 formed therein which leads to the atmosphere and which is provided for the purpose of preventing sufficient vacuum to be created in the mold cavity to permit the glass to engage the underside of the closure 63.

'lhe suction head 6l has a swivel connection with a tubular member 65, in turn connected to slide 66, by mea-ns of which the head is moved into and out of engagement with its blank mold. Member 65 has vacuum inlet conduit 67 connected thereto (see Figs. 2 and 4).

Slide 66 extends upwardly through a guideway 68 (Figs. 2 and 5) secured to air motor 57, the slide carrying a roller 69 which isv adapted to engage a cam 71 formed on the exterior of the drum 44, previously mentioned, as shown in Figs..4, 5 and 7. Cam 71 is cut away as indicated at 71a at the same point as the track 43 and the drum 44 (Fig. 5) so that when the blank mold is lowered and raised at the gathering position, the blow head 61 may ride down and up with the blank mold (Fig. 2).

Cam 71 is so shaped that as the blank mold moves from station l to station ll, the blow head is raised out of engagement with the blank mold, and as the mold moves from station H to station l, the blow head is moved into engagement with the blank mold.

Vacuum is supplied alternately to conduits 67 from the main supply line 67a (Figs. 2 and 4) leading to a duct 67?) (Figs. 2, 9 and 17) extending downwardly through column 26 to a multiple valve at the bottom of portion 26a of the column (Figs. 6 and 9).

The' multiple valve includes the air-oper ated poppet valve 67e adapted to open and close the bottom of duct 67 b and a two-way rotary valve 67d, the plug of which is the single-ported column and the rotary part of which is the doubleported hub portion of spider 33, to the ports of which conduits 67 are connected.

Valve 67 c is held seated by a spring and is opened by air motor 7 2 to which air line 72a from timer 'l (Fig. 17) is connected.

When a mold B arrives at station I, rotary l away from station I. As the mold is dipped in the glass, valve 670 is opened and remains open during such rotary travel of the mold, to charge the mold and hold the glass therein until it has set sufliciently to permit the vacuum to be cut off.

Distribution of air to air motors` 57 to open and close the blank molds at station II and to hold the blank molds closed as they move from station I to station II is elfected by means of a distributor valve construction, shown in detail in Fig. 8 and diagrammatically in Fig. 17. This construction is provided in the upper portion of tubular column 26 in the sleeve portion 27 of the support for the tubular column and in the hub portion 29 of the carrier. The sleeve portion 27 has conduits 73 and 74 connected thereto, which at vtimes are placed in communication with the conduits 58 and 59 of the air motors.

Conduit 7 3 is connected with the main air supply M while conduit 74 is connected to timer T. When a mold is at station I, it is held closed by the supply of air from conduit 7 3, which air flows through an annular groove 7 5 in column 26, and vertical passage `76 in the column, the bottom of which registers with conduit 59, this serving to apply air pressure to the bottom of the air motor of the mold at the gathering position to hold the mold closed.

At this time air is exhausted from the top of the last-named air motor through conduit 58, a vertical groove 77 in the column, and an exhaust port 78 in the hub 29.

The mold may be opened at station II by the admission of air in to conduit 74 from timer T, which air iows downwardly through vertical duct 79 in the column 26 through conduit 58 into the top of air motor 57, thus opening the blank mold. At this time air is exhausted from conduit 59 by way of groove 81 in the column 26. As the blank mold thereafter moves away from station II toward station I, it is closed by the re-establisliment of the connections first described, when the mold arrives at station I, preparatory to gathering another charge of glass.

After a charge of glass has been gathered in the blank mold B and the mold raised the proper distance above the pool by the operation of air motor 48, a. charge is severed from the glass in the pool by means of shears S, which are best shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 10. These shears comprise V-notched blades 83 on arms 84 carried by vertical rock shaft-s 85 which are mounted in a bracket 86 which maybe secured to the front .of the gathering pool in suitable manner.

The rock shafts 85 are geared together, as indicated at 87 (Fig. 10),-for simultaneous oscillation, this being effected by means of an air motor 88 carried by the bracket 86 and connected to a crank arm 89 on one of the rock shafts. Air motor 88 is provided with conduits 89 and 90, which, as shown in Fig. 17, lead to timer T so that the shears are operated in timed relation with the machine, and particularly when the blank mold has moved intocits uppermost position at station I. Shears S preferably are supported so that when they close in severing they will be somewhat spaced from the bottom of the blank mold so as not to smear the bottom of the charge.

Considering now the parison molds and neck molds, it will be seen that the parison molds P are mounted on vertical pivots 92 in carriages 93 secured to the top of the parison mold table or carrier 21, previously mentioned. The carrier 21 rotates on pedestal 94 which supports the column 95 extending upwardly through the parison mold table.

The parison mold table is provided on its periphery with a ring gear 96, by means of which4 the table is rotated. This gear in turn is engaged by a spur gear 97 (Fig. 1) intermittently operated by a rack 98 (Figs. l and 17a) driven by air motor v99. Gear 96 also drives the blank mold carrier through a train of gears, including the spur gear 100 (Figs. 1 and 3), which meshes with pinion 101 on the bottom of shaft 102, the upper end of which carries gear 103 in mesh with the gear 37 of the blank mold carrier.

Each parison mold is opened and closed by means of linkage indicated at -104 (Figs. 1 and 2) and including a push rod 105 extending rearwardly through the carriage 93 for the parison mold. This push rod carries a cam roll 106 which i's connected to the rod by an upwardly extending pin 107. When a parison mold is at station II (Figs. 1, 2, 17 and 17 -a), having arrived there in open condition, the parison mold may be closed by the operation of an air motor 108 pivoted to the column 95 and adapted to oscillate bell crank 109 pivoted in and extending through a stationary support 110, which is secured to the column 95.

Bell crank 109 extends downwardly into a position for the bottom hooked end 111 thereof to engage the inside of pin 107 to force push bar 105 outwardly, and thus close the parison mold. Air motor 108 is operated in a direction to open the mold by the admission of air Ithereto through a conduit 112 leading from the timer T. The air motor is operated in the reverse direction by a tension spring 113, as will be apparent from Fig. 2. 1

It will be understood that the air motor 108 and the bell crank 109 which it operates are stationarily supported in position for the bottom end of the bell crank to engage pins 107 of the various parison mold operating mechanisms after they successively arrive at station II.

In order to insure that each parison mold will be held closed as it moves from'station II to station III, a cam 114 may be provided as shown in Figs. 1 and 11, this cam being secured to the column of the mold-table and engaged successively 'by the rollers 106 of the parison mold operating mechanisms. This cam is shaped so as to hold the parison mold closed at station III, and to permit it to open as it moves from station III to sta- At station III, the parison mol-d preferably is held closed by the mold lock 115 operated by air motor 116,l to which air is supplied and exhausted through conduits 117 and 118 (Fig. 17 -a) At station IV, the parison mold m-a be opened by air-operated mechanism substantially identical with that previously described for closing the mold, and including an air motor 120 (Fig. 1711,) whichvoperates a bell crank 121 (Figs. 1 and 17-a) provided on its lower arm with an inturned or hooked portion 121-1 adapted to engage the outside of a pin 107 and thus open the mold to transfer station. Air is admitted and exhausted to and from the upper and lower ends respectively of air motor 120 to swing lever 121 clockwise to open successive parison molds, and counterclockwise into inoperative position.

As shown in Fig. 1, a concentric cam 123 on column 95 serves to hold the parison molds open as they move from station IV to station II, as a result ofthe engagement of rollers 106 of the mold operating mechanisms with the cam.

In lieu of cam 123, a cam 123er.` (Fig. 11) may be provided having a portion 1231 arranged for engagement by rollers 106 to open the molds as they move successivelyfrom station III to station IV. This may used in place of the air-operated mold opening mechanism at station IV including the air motor 120 and bell crank 121.

The holders for neck molds N are mounted on the pivot pins 92 which carry the parison molds. o ned by linkage including a crosshea-d 125 (gigs. 1 and 2) carrying a pin 126, and guided forreciprocatory movements on carriage 93 by means indicated at 127.

The neck molds successively are closed as they arrive at station II by the engagement of pins 126 with a stationary cam 128 attached to support 110. They are successively opened at station IV (Figs. 1 and 17-a) by a stationary air motor 129 on support 110 which reciprocates a spool 131 with which pins 126 come into engagement as the neck molds ar-v rive at station IV. 1

Air motor 129 has air supply and exhaust conduits 132 and 133 connected thereto (Fig. 17-a) for timing the opening of the neck rings as later described.

The rotation of carriers 2O and 21 one step brings a charged blank mold B and a closed neck mold N into axial alignment at station II. A neck pin 134 (Fig. 13) and operating means therefor are permanently loc-ated at this station for cooperation with successive neck rings. The neck pin is carried .by an arm 135 (Figs. 2 and 17) secured to air mo'- tor 136 on support 110, and having air supply and exhaust conduits 137, 138 which lead from timer T.

Also located at this station is the blowhead Each neck mold is closed and' relais? sive neck rings N. Blowhead 145 is loweredv and raised by air motor 146 to which conduits 117 and 118 are connected, for the operation of the air motor, as later explained. The blowhead proper receives air -directly from pressure main M.

The finishing mold carrier 22 is rotated by gear 97 in mesh with gear 147 on the carrier. The finishing molds F may be of suitable construction and operated in desired manner. As shown in Fig. 1, each finishing mold is opened and closed by connections including a crosshead 148 carrying cam roller 149.

The finishing molds may be closed at station IV (the parison transfer station) by air motor 151l (Fig. 17 -a) which operates a hooked member 152 adapted to engage cam rollers 149 to successively close the molds. Air is supplied to and exhausted from the ends of air motor 151 by branches of conduits 122 and 118 in a manner to be explained later.

One or more finish blowheads 153 (Fig. 17-a) may be provided for blowing parisons in the finishing molds at one or more of stations V, VI, etc., as is found desirable or necessary. Blowhead 153 is operated by air motor 154 having branches of air conduits 117 and 118 connected thereto, and air is supplied to the blowhead directly from pressure main M. I

Mold locks such as indicated at 155, operated by an air motor 156, may be provided for holding the finishing molds closed at the finish blowing stations. Air motor 156 may be connected to conduits 117 and 118.

Operation The operation of the above-described apparatus in performing the novel method of the invention may be as follows:

When the carriers come to rest, a blank mold B at station I is lowered into gathering position as shown in Fig. 2, by the exhaust of air through line 49 of' air motor 48. By the time the mo'd dips in the glass, vacuum valve 67 c (Fig. 9) is opened to supply vacuum through the previously opened rotary valve 67d 6), this filling the mold with glass.

The blank mold now is raised by air motor 48, shears S sever the glass, and the rotation of carrier 2O one step moves the blank mold B to station II, the mold arriving there below and in alignment with a closed neck mold N.

Air now is admitted to motor 51 to hold i the blank mold tightly in engagement with The supply of air to blowhead 140 forces some of the glassL in the blank mold into the neck ring around plunger, as illustrated in Fig. 13, this shaping theneck finish and connecting the blank to the neck mold. During these operations, another blank is being gathered in the other blank mold at station I, this blank mold having been moved-to station I' and there closed by its air motor 57 simultaneously with the movement of the other mold to station 1I.

After blowhead 140 has been lowered, blank mold B at station II now is opened by the operation of its air motor 57, after which the mold may be lowered slightly by the exhaust of air from motor 51. This leaves the blank suspended from the neck ring. The neck pin now may be retracted by air motor 136, although if desired this operation may occur prior to the opening of the blank mold.

The parison mold P may be closed about the suspended blank either prior to the movement thereof away from station II to station III, in which case air motor 108 closes the mold, or during such movement by cam 114 as already explained.

In this manner blanks are formed in blank molds B, and are attached to successive neck molds at s'tation II, the timing of the parts of the apparatus which perform these operations being controlled by timer T, as illustrated in Fig. 17. VThis timer does not per se form a part of this invention, and hence has not been described in detail. It may, however, be of the same construction as that disclosed in the British patent to the Hartford-Empire Co., No. 257 ,637 ofSept. 7, 1926.

Timer T also serves to synchronize the operations of the blank molds B with parison molds P and finishing molds F,Aand in fact times the rotation of the carriers through air conduit 1 60 (Figs. 17 and 17 -a). When air is admitted to conduit 160, a series of operations occur as follows:

Air flows from conduit 160 through valve 161 formed in part by locking pin 162 of the carrier 21, which pin at this time is in locking position, the carriers being at rest. From valve 161, air flows through a continuation of conduit 160 to piston valve -163 moving it to the left (Fig. 17 a) resulting in the operation of air motor 99 and rack 98 to the left, preparatory to a subsequent reverse movement thereof to rotate' the carriers.

This movement of rack 98 moves table control valve 166 to the left, as a result of which air is admitted to line 122a and exhausted from line 122, lowering a piston 164 which in turn lowers a gear 165 into mesh with rack 98 and withdrawing locking pins 162 and 167 for carriers 21 and 22. This distribution and operation is reversed when rack 98 and valve is moved to the right.

The admission of air to and exhaust thereof from lilies 112a and 122 respectively moves air motor 120, which has previously opened a parison mold, into inoperative position, disengaging bell crank 121 and a pin 107 of one of the parison mold operating mechanisms. This operation of air motor 120 opens a passage 168 in the air motor to exhaust air from the branch of line 122 whichl 'leads to blow-mold closing air motor 151,

so that this motor may later be moved to inoperative position, as is later described.

Withdrawal of locking pin 167 admits air from pressure main M to line 118 and its branches, and withdrawal of pin 162 exhausts air from line 117 and its branches. This moves blowheads 145 and 153 and mold locks 115 and 155 to inoperative positions. Such operation of blowhead 145 permits air to fiow from its air motor 146 through a line 169 to reset valve 163 into the position shown in Fig. 17a.

This permits air from main M to operate vmotor 99 and rack 98, rotating the carriers one step, and as a result, table control valve 166 is moved to the right, and piston 164, and

` hence gear 165 and locking pins 162 and 167,

are raised into the positions shown in Fig. 17-a. This is due to the shifting of valve 166 which causes the admission of air to line 122, and the exhaust of air from line 122m. Air motor 120 also is operated at this time to open a parison mold at station IV, this permitting air to iow through passage 168 in motor 120 and the branch of line 122 to motor 151, which closes a finishing mold F about a parison suspended from a. neck ring N.

Consequently a lug 171 on hooked member i 152, which engages the cam roller of the finishing mold mechanism, actuates a rotary' 153 and mold locks 115-and 155 are moved'120 to operative positions.

When locking pin 167 has been withdrawn, and the carriers are rotating, the inner end of air motor 151 is open to exhaust through a branch of line 122 which leads through passage 168 of air motor 120, as already eX- plained. At this time, air is supplied to the outer end of air motor 151 through a branch of line 118 as the result of the opening of a valve 173 operated by cams 174 on the hub l lof carrier 22, there being one cam for each finishing mold. This returns hooked member 152 intoa'position to close the next finishing mold and turns valve 172 to reverse the distribution of air to neck ring opening air motor 129 so as to set this motor for opening the` succeeding neck mold.

When the carriers come to rest, valve 173 is disengaged from a cam 17 4 and thus moved to a position to exhaust air from the outer end of motor 151 so that it may later close a finishing mold when air is admitted to its inner end through the branch of line 122.

Various changes may bemade in the method and apparatus described herein without departing from the scope of the appended claims. The method may bepracticed by other apparatus suitably modified or designed in accordance with its principles. The use of a machine comprising continuously rotating mold carriers is not to be regarded as departing'from the scope of the claims,

and the word position as may be used therein to define the locations of various operations, is intended to apply to such a machine. The method also may be performed by machines of the reciprocating type or those in which one or more of the molds are relatively stationary. f

Having thus described my invention, what I desire to claim and secure by Letters Patent isz' 1. The method of fabricating hollow glassware which comprises charging a blank mold lwith glass from the surface of a gathering pool by suction to form al blank, positioning the blank mold beneath and in axial alignment with a neck mold, forcing some of the glass in the blank mold upwardly into the neck mold to form a neck finish on the blank and to attach the blank to the neck mold, opening the blank mold leaving the blank suspended from the neck mold, closing a parison mold about the suspended blank, blowing and expanding the blank in the. parison mold to form a hollow parison, opening the parison mold to leave the parison suspended from the neck mold, closing a finishing mold about the parison, opening the neck mold to release the parison in the finishing mold, and blowing the parison to final form in the finishing mold.

2. The'method of forming hollow glassware which comprises successively charging one or more blank molds from the surface 0f a gathering pool by suction to'successirely form blanks, successively forming neck finishes on the blanks by positioning one or 4more blank molds beneath and in axial alignment with successive neck rings and blowing parts of the blanks into the neck rings, successively opening one or more of the blank molds to leave the blanks suspended from the neck molds, successively expanding the blanks into hollow parisons by blowing them in parison molds, successively transferring Lemie? a neck mold associated therewith, a finishing mold, a suction head adapted to directly engage and close the top of the blank mold7 means for horizontally moving the blank mold between a gathering position and a blank transfer position, means for engaging and disengaging the blank mold and suction head, means forv dipping the blank mold into cont-act with the surface of a pool of glass at the gathering position to gather a blank by suction, means for axially aligning the blank mold and neck mold at the transfer position, power means for raising the blank mold into and holding it in engagement with the neck 4mold at said position, means for forcinga part of the blank into the neck mold to form a neck finish on the blank and to attach the blank to the neck mold, means 4. A glassware forming machine comprising rotary carriers mounted for rotation about spaced vertical axes, a blank mold on one of said carriers, a parison mold and associated neck mold on another of said carriers, al finishing mold on the other of said carriers, means for rotating said carriers in synchronism with each other to axially align the neck mold with the blank and finishing molds successively, means for vertically moving the blank mold on its carrier to dip it into contact with the surface of a pool of glass, asuction head for applying vacuum to the blank mold to gather a blank therein from said pool, means for forcing a portion of the blank into the neck mold when the blank and neck molds are in alignment, means for opening the blank mold to leave the blank suspended from the neck mold` means for closing the parison mold about the suspended blank, means for blowing the blank into a hollow parison in the parison mold, means for thereafter opening the parison mold to leave the parison suspended from the neck mold, means for closing the finishing mold about the parison when the neck and finishing molds are in axial alignment, means for opening the neck mold to release the parison in the finishing mold, and means for blowing the parison into a finished article in the finishing mold.

5. Apparatus y prising a plurality of carrlers mounted for rotation about spaced vertical axes,l a blank mold mounted for vertical movement on one of said carriers, a parison mold and associated neck mold on another of said carriers, a finishing mold on the other of said carriers, means for rotating said carriers in synchronism with each other to axially allgn the neck mold With the blank and finishing molds successively, means for lowering the blank mold into contact with the surface of a pool of glass, a suction head for applying vacuum to the blank mold to gather a blank by suction, means for raising the blank mold into and for holding it in enga ement with the neck mold when the blani and neck molds are in axial alignment, means operable during the operation of the last-named means for forcing a part of the blank into the neck mold, means for opening the blank mold to leave the blank suspended from the neck mold, means for closing the arison mold about the blank, means for blowlng the vblank into a hollow parison in the parison mold, means for opening the -parison mold leaving the parison suspended from the neck mold, means for closing the finishing mold about the parison when the neck and finishlng molds are in alignment, means for opening the neck mold, and means for blowing the hollow parison into a finished article in the finishing mold.

6. Apparatus for forming hollow glassware comprising a rotary blank mold cal'- rier, a plurality of blank molds mounted on said carrier for vertical movement, a parison mold carrier, a plurality of parison molds on the parison mold carrler, neck molds associated with the parison molds, means on the parison mold carrier for permanently holding the neck molds above the parison molds, means for'supporting said carriers for rotation about eccentric vertical axes, means for rotating said carriers to move the blank molds into and out of a gathering position and to successively align the blank molds and neck molds at a blank transfer position, suction heads associated with the blank molds, means operating in response to the rotation of the blank mold carrier to successively move the suction heads into engagement with the tops of the blank molds as the molds move toward the gathering position and out of engagement with the molds as they move to the blank transfer position, means for successively moving the blank molds into and out of contact with a pool of glass at the gathering position to form blanks therein by suction, a neck pin operable at the blank transfer position, means for projecting the neck pin downwardly into a neck ring at said position, a. blowhead at the blank transl for forming glassware comfer position, means for moving the blowhead into engagement with the bottom of a blank mold at the transfer position when the blank mold is aligned with a neck mold, means for supplying air to said blowhead to force part of a blank in the blank mold upwardly into the neck ring, means for opening the blank mold leaving the blank suspended from the neck ring, means foi` closing a parison about the suspended blank, and means for blowing the blank into a parison in the parison mold.

Signed at'Hartford, Connecticut, this 21st day of November, 1931.

KARL E. PEILER. 

